Separator.



N0. Patented Dec. 26, I899. R. W. JESSUP.

SEPARATOB. {Applic nion filed Aug. 18, 1898.)

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Patented Dec. 26, I399. R. w. JESSUP.

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(Application filed Aug. 18, 1898.)

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STATES ATENT FFICE.

ROBERT W. JESSUP, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALFTO FAIRFAX H. WHEELAN, OF SAME PLACE.

SEPARATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,855, dated December26, 1899.

Application filed August 1 8 1 89 8.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. JESSUP, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco, in the State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSeparators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in separators used inconnection with the separation of barley, wheat, or other cereals, andmore particularly to that class of separators in which is employed aseries of inclined screens adapted to successively receive the materialand separate its particles. In separators of this kind the screens aremounted in a casing or spout the height of which is governed by thecapacity of the ma chine, which is itself dependent upon the number ofscreens in the series. It is obvious that a greater number of screenswill give a more complete separation than a smaller number, or, in otherwords, the grade of separations is determined by the number of screensin the series.

With the machines now in use the separa tion of the particles commencesthe moment the material falls upon the first screen contained within thespout and continues during the downward travel of the material throughthe length of the spout. If the spout is, say, fourteen feet in heightand the screens placed at intervals therein, the screening orseparationcontinues from the top to the bottom of the spout. Consequently, whenthe material is finally discharged a separation of a single grade issecured. Practical operation has demonstrated that the market requiresvarious grades of separation. Hence to meet such requirements it isnecessary as the machines are at present constructed to arrange anindependent machine for each grade. For instanoe,suppose a spoutfourteen feet in height, with its arranged screens, gives a separationcorresponding to grade No. 1 or the cleanest separation. It follows thatsuch machine is not adapted for the separation of grade No. 2 or No. 3.To secure such grades, it is obvious that a less number of screens mustbe employed in the fourteen-foot spout for grade No.

2 and a less number for grade No. 3, or an in- Serial No. 688,894. (Nomodel.)

dependent separator of less height must be provided for each requiredgrade. Ineither case this means that the purchaser of a separator for,say, grade No. 3 cannot thereafter use his separator to secure theseparation of grade No. 2 or No. 1. Hence a distinct separator isrequired in order to obtain a separation of each grade of the material.

The object of myinvention is to so construct the separator thatdifferent desired grades of separation may be secured, thus enabling theowner of a single separator to obtain the various grades of separationwithout going to the expense of providing a number of separators toperform such work. This result I attain by making a spout of a givenlength, or such length as is required, with its screens,to

secu re the finest grade of separation and providingt-he spout at givenintervals with means for the attachment of a cut-off by means of whichthe downwardly-traveling material is intermingled at such point in orderthat the separation of the material for the required grade will takeplace below the point of cutoff.

Accordingly my invention consists in what may be termed a cut-off plate,adapted to be interposed in the stream of the separated particles orscreenings and to turn said stream back again into the main body of thematerial, thus joining all the particles once more and rendering onlythat portion of the machine below said cut-off plate effective for finalseparation, while that portion above is without function.

My invention is applicable to any separator in which a series of screensis used. The character of the screens is immaterial. They may be theordinary foramiuous metal plates, or they may be wire gauze or nettingor any other form; but for convenience I will illustrate myimprovementin connection with that peculiar screen and arrangement of contiguousparts which I have shown in Letters Patcut No. 576,195, dated February2, 1897, and in subsequent applications,SerialNos. 649,581 and 657,173,filed August 26, 1897, and November 2, 1897, respectively.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectionof a separator, showing the application of the cut-off plate at one sideof one of the vertical series of screens. Fig. 2 is a View of the screenwhich I use in the separator to which my cut-off plate is at presentapplied. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the application ofthe cut-off at each side of the chute.

A is a box or casing which on account of its general proportions mayproperly be called a spout. Within this spout is mounted a series ofscreens B, with intervening stop-plates D, which approximately bridgethe space between the foot of one screen and the head of the succeedingscreen. In the present case, however, these stop-plates do not extendfully across this space; but there is left a small or narrow space 1)between the foot of the screen above and the head of the stop-plate, inwhich narrow space the delivery edge of my cut-off plate is inserted, asI shall presently explain.

Opposing the series of screens B is a second series, consisting ofsurfaces the principal function of which, as far as the first series ofscreens is concerned, is that of directing-plates by which the materialis directed upon successive screens of the series B. This is as Iillustrated them in my patent above mentioned. Incidentally, however, asfar as this case is concerned, said series C are screens, like series B,having stop-plates D, so that the screens of both series have the doublefunction of screens and directing-plates. The screens are constructed,as shown in Fig. 2, of parallel spaced needles of a pliant and springycharacter, secured fixedly at one end to a common head at, and thenceextending free and independent to the other end. In practice thestop-plates D are secured to or formed with the heads at, and said headsare provided with sockets d, in which are fitted the spout, all as Ihave described in a previ ous application above referred to. The upperor head end of the stop-plate rests against fixed stops (1 in the spout.

E are boxes or receptacles to receive the particles screened out, saidboxes communicating with a suitable passage, and thence to an exteriordelivery.

The inclined bottom a of the spout delivers the main stream of cleanparticles through opening a.

The operation is this: The worthless particles or screenings are siftedout by successive screens and kept apart by the stop-plates D, thestream of said screenings flowing down in the channel back of saidscreens and plates. The clean particles continue on down all the screensand are delivered separately. This is the general operation of allseparators of this kind.

Nowit often happens that a grade of separations as would result from theuse of all the screens in the machine is not desired, but a graderesulting from a less number of screens may he wanted. To eifect this, Iinterpose in the stream of the separated particles or screenings whichflows in the channel back of the screens and stop-plates a cut-off plateP, the lower or delivery end of which enters in the space 1) between thelower end of a screen and the upper end of a stop-plate. Thus the streamof separated particles or screenings instead of continuing on down tothe bottom delivery isdiverted and thrown back again into the mainstream in the space between the screens, and the whole material is oncemore together. Therefore all the separation which had taken place up tothat point has gone for nothing, and only that portion of the machinebelow the level of the cut-off plate P is eflicient for finalseparation. Now by placing this 'cut oif plate at different heights inthe spout as many or as few screens may be brought into play as desiredfor the particular grade of separations required. For example, take aseparator fourteen feet long, and by means of a cut-off plate I can useany length of it desired. I can use only the lower ten feet or twelvefeet, and so on. The cutoff plate may be mounted in the spout in anysuitable manner. I- have here shown it as secured upon pins 19 at itsupper end and resting upon the top of the underlying stopplate D at itslower end. The pins 19 enter sockets p in the spout, and in order toillustrate the possibility of mounting the cut-ofi plate at differentheights I have shown sockets p in the spout-walls at several differentlevels, so that it may be readily understood that a cut-off plate may beinserted and sup ported by-its pins in any of said sockets.

Though I have shown'only one cut-off plate in Fig. l of the drawings, Ican have another on the other side behind the screen-series O, as shownin Fig. 3 of the drawings. By the use of one or more of these cut-elfplates I can call into use only such number of screens as will give methe required grade of separations, and I can use the same machine forall grades desired.

F are guards, protectors, or fenders consisting of a plate over the headof each screen, their object being to prevent stray particles fromwedging between the needles, as I have explained in a previousapplication.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a separator having a series of screens adapted to separate thematerial, and a suit able channel in which the screenings are keptapart, a cut-off device arranged within said channel, and adapted tointercept the stream of said screenings, and turn it back again into thematerial, whereby only those screens below the level of the cut-offplate are eifcctive for final separation.

2. In a separator havinga series of screens adapted to separate thematerial, and a suitable channel in which the screenings are kept apart,a cut-off plate adapted to be mounted at different heights in saidchannel, to inter cept the stream of said screenings at any pointdesired, and turn it back again into the material, whereby only thosescreens below the level of the cut-off plate are effective for finalseparation.

3. In a separator having a spout or casing, and a series of screenstherein, adapted to separate the material, and so arranged as to form achannel in said spout, to keep the screenings separate, a cut-off plateadapted to be mounted at different heights in the channel which conveyssaid screenings and to intercept the stream thereof and turn it backagain into the material, whereby only those screens below the level ofthe cut-off plate are elfective for final separation.

4. In a separator, the combination of a series of inclined screens,adapted to separate the material, a series of intervening stopplates,tokeep the screenings apart, and a cutoff plate interposed in the streamof screenings, to intercept and turn it back again into the material,whereby only those screens which are below said cut-off plate areefiective for final separation.

5. In a separator, the combination of a series of inclined screens,adapted to separate the material, a series of intervening stopplates, tokeep the screenings apart, a cut-ofi plate interposed in the stream ofscreenings, to divert and turn it back again into the material, wherebyonly those screens which are below said cut-off plate are effective forfinal separation, and means for securing said cutoff plate at differentheights, whereby different grades of separations may-be had, as required.

6. In a separator, the combination of a series of inclined screens,adapted to separate the material, a series of intervening stopplates, tokeep the screenings apart, a series of inclined directing devicesopposing the se-v ries of screens, and adapted to direct the material tosaid screens successively, and a cutoff plate adapted to be set atdifferent heights in the stream of screenings, to divert it back againinto the material.

7. In a separator, the combination of a series of inclined screens, aseries of stop-plates, each plate extending between the head of onescreen and the foot of the one next higher, and terminating short ofsaid higher screen, whereby a space is left between the upper end of thestop-plate and the foot of the screen, and a cut-off plate adapted to beset at different heights, said plate intersecting the space back of thescreens and stop-plates, and having its lower end lying in the spacebetween the stop-plate and the screen next higher, whereby the stream ofscreenings is diverted by said cut-off plate and turned into thematerial again.

8. In a separator, the combination of a casing or spout,a series ofinclined screens mounted therein, a series of stop-plates, each plateextending between the head of one screen and the foot of the one nexthigher and terminating short of said foot, a series of directing devicesopposing the screens and adapted to direct the material from screen toscreen successively, a cut-off plate secured in the spout back of thescreens and stop-plates, said plate intersecting the space between thespout and the screens, and having its lower end entering the spacebetween the stop-plate and the screen, whereby the screenings are turnedback again into the material, and means for securing said cut-off platein the spout at different heights, whereby different grades ofseparations may be had.

' In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT W. JESSUP. Witnesses:

J AMES L. WHEELER, CHAs. J. RUssELL.

